Los Lunas, NM – On May 1, 2019, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was contacted to investigate a police shooting involving the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.

State Police agents learned that on May 1, 2019 at about 12:07 a.m. the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) was called to a residence in Los Lunas for a report of a stolen firearm.  Deputies were told by the victim that the suspect, Isaac Pineda (37) of Los Lunas had stolen the victim’s firearm.  The victim also said that the suspect threatened to harm the suspect's own family with the firearm.

Sgt. Stanley Montano, Deputy Kenny Brown, Deputy Mikal Duran, and Deputy Monique Thavenet, all of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pineda’s residence of 682 Meadowlake Road. Sgt. Montano and Deputy Thavenet knocked on the outside of the trailer and announced their presence as the Sheriff's Office.  Deputies could hear Pineda yelling inside the residence shouting obscenities and saying that he had the deputies in his sights.  Deputies also heard numerous female voices crying and yelling inside the residence.

The deputies backed away from the residence and took cover behind two abandoned vehicles on the property.  Pineda’s family was able to safely exit the residence.  A short time later Pineda exited the trailer with a rifle in his hands.  Pineda pointed the rifle at Deputies Duran and Brown.  Both deputies discharged their weapons.  Pineda was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground.  Deputies gave Pineda numerous commands to drop his weapon.  Pineda ignored the commands and again brought the rifle up towards the two deputies.  At this point, all four deputies fired their weapons and fatally struck Pineda, who was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.  

Pineda had an extensive and violent criminal history to include Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Battery on a Household Member, Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member, Aggravated Fleeing of a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, Shoplifting, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Deputy Kenny Brown has been with VCSO for 6 months.  Deputy Mikal Duran has been with VCSO for 3 months with 4 years prior service at Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).  Deputy Monique Thavenet has been with VCSO for 5 years with 4 months prior service at BCSO.  Sgt Stanley Montano has been with VCSO for 7 years with 3 years prior service at Socorro PD.

For information on the initial stolen firearm call or for the duty status of the deputies please refer those inquiries to the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office. No deputies or family members were injured in the incident. No additional information is available.

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